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Tripods
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What sort of tripod are you guys using ?
Me a Benbo Trekker MK1 , gets into every position imaginable and then some :lol:
I have no idea. It’s currently packed in a bag in Toronto, being brought over here tomorrow :)
Manfrotto 190ProB
the B bit is important coz that means black, I had to pay extra for that :)
with a Manfrotto 486 ball head
I just use a jessops cheapie – havent actually had to use it in over a year or so. It doesnt have a ball head but its solid enough when you hang the camera bag off the hook directly underneath the camera mount.
Might get around to upgrading it at some point (like a year or 2 down the road) – the best quality ones I have ever seen were in an antique camera shop in Arundel in england – they had ones there that were built like a tank and weighed as much. Where is everybody getting the manfrotto ones from ? I take it they are on the expensive side.
Update: mine’s a Slik U6600. Received it as a gift, it works alright. Shakes a bit in heavy wind though.
I have the same setup as NotPoodle (do you know how unnatural it is to type your name? :lol: )
I have to really look into this and get a decent tripod. Trouble is i don’t want to be carrying around a heavy tripod but i definitely need something sturdy enough for my D200. Any suggestions?
Ali wrote:
I have to really look into this and get a decent tripod. Trouble is i don’t want to be carrying around a heavy tripod but i definitely need something sturdy enough for my D200. Any suggestions?
I have a Manfrotto 055PRO tripod and 029 Standard Pan and Tilt Head, and also have a budget tripod with some easily-forgettable name which… errrrmmmmm…. I’ve just forgotten. The comparisons are interesting – especially the weight differences.
But there is a solution for getting more stability from a light tripod. At the time I bought my Manfrotto, I also bought a thing that was described as a skirt (for the tripod, not for myself!). This is something like a triangular piece of canvas which ties to the tripod legs – fairly low down the legs. Then you place your camera bag or some stones in the skirt and that significantly lowers the centre of gravity of the whole tripod and makes it more stable. It wasn’t very expensive, either. A good heavy, quality Manfrotto has advantages over this arrangement, but it isn’t a bad solution. If you’re interested I can look up that article and get you the part number and a link for it.
[Later Edit] I hunted around for a link and find that it is called a hammock rather than a skirt. Have a look at the Cripps Tripod Hammock in the link:
http://www.speedgraphic.co.uk/cat.asp?c=114&1=Bags+%26+AccessoriesWhat is the story with the manfrotto numbering convention does anyone know ? I need to get one too in the next few months and have no idea of the difference between the 055 and 190’s etc
Mine’s a Slik Pro 700DX.
Cost about ?130.
I’ve never used it outdoors! Too heavy to carry around and no shoulder strap on it.Simple solution to not carrying a tripod – bring a small beanbag with you. Place it on a wall, or whatever, and sit your camera on it for stability.
I currently have a Manfrotto 055 which is about 20 years old. On this I have the Manfrotto 468RC2 ball head, which I think is one of the best Manfrotto ball heads available as it strikes a nice balance between cost and useability and sturdiness – it’s pretty much rock solid although it’s far from the best ball-head that Manfrotto or others make. I also have a Manfrotto 074 heavy duty tripod with a 410RC head on it. Sometime I interchange the heads, depending on use – the 410 is great if you need precise verticals or horizontals as it’s a geared head.
Personally, I wouldn’t go near the Grip Action Ball heads from Manfrotto – they are seriously prone to vibration by virtue of their design, especially the older, vertical model. The size of the ball does nothing to inspire confidence and the thickness of the spindle from the ball itself is, in my opinion, very thin. There’s no point in spending money on a decent tripod if you’re going to put an unsteady head on it. I know there are lots of people using them and they are more than happy with them, but it’s not a head I would give any serious consideration to.
One of the quickest tests you can put a tripod through is to extend it fully on a solid surface and then grip the section wehre the legs join with both hands and try and twist it clockwise and anti-clockwise. If this torsion twists it more than a little bit, then the tripod simply will not be steady enough.
If you’re considering a new tripod, as well as Manfrotto and Gitzo, you should give some thought to Feisol, Dutch Hill P900 and Berlebach tripods. I quite like the idea of a wooden Berlebach tripod myself as the wood would (sorry!) absorb small vibrations. Just run some Google searches on these tripod and you’ll find lots of information. Also, when it comes to ball heads and you want something light, consider the Acratech. This is a wonderfully engineered piece of kit.
– Thorsten.
ciaran wrote:
Good place to start looking :)
Ok well going by that chart its height and weight/colour that differentiates the different model numbers.
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